Wise’s Elul Challenge provides activities focused on four Holy Day themes: T’filah (Reflect), Tzedakah (Repair), Teshuvah (Repent), T’hadesh (Renew). The next four days of Kavanot will each address one of these themes.
Today: T’filah (Reflect)
In Hebrew, the word for prayer is t’filah and the process or action of prayer is התפלל—hitpaleil. Without getting too much into the grammar weeds, it’s a reflexive verb which means that in some way the action returns to oneself. So, while we often think of prayer as an address to God, in fact, the first audience for our prayers is ourselves. One of the primary activities of prayer, then, is introspection
In our introspective prayer/thoughts we can pursue the answers to these questions:
- Who am I?
- What am I in relationship to others?
- What are my deepest needs?
- What/who do I want to become?
If you review our activities for the first seven days of Elul in the purple colored category “T’filah (Reflect)” you’ll see that in so many ways, introspection is at the core of these activities. Certainly, our list is not exhaustive, you may add some exercises and activities of your own.
As you find yourself in synagogue or even if personal prayer is your practice, allow yourself, from time to time, to pause on a word, a phrase, an idea. Allow the idea to percolate through your mind. How does it influence your thoughts about the four questions I ask above? As answers come to mind, can you commit yourself to acting in a way that reflects your vision for yourself? If you don’t regularly pray, perhaps the four questions above can stand alone as a meditation for you in your preparations for the upcoming Holy Days.
Take the Elul Challenge. This year, join us for the Holy Days prepared to make next year a far better year than the one that has passed.
— Rabbi Ron Stern